Dev finds way to get Gear VR to work with non-Samsung phones

Samsung’s Gear VR headset is an excellent VR solution that is compatible with disappointingly few handsets. Unlike Google Cardboard, the Gear VR isn’t just a simple viewfinder that you can insert any phone into, it works with only a handful of Samsung’s flagship phones.

Or it works with only a handful of Samsung’s flagship phones natively. One of the developers over at the XDA Developers forums has created a workaround to make other QHD (2560 x 1440 pixels) resolution phones compatible with the headset.

Developer dc13 has created an archive of the necessary files and a readme with the relevant build.prop lines that developers will need to add to their ROM in order to make this work. These can all be found in the Google Drive folder here.

See also:

Samsung Gear VR gets its own web browser and improvements to Oculus Home

March 29, 2017

As this requires a bit more heavy lifting than just flashing a .zip file, it is recommended for developers only. Still, if you have the experience (or know somebody who does), and a compatible phone, you could take advantage of this too.

If not, you can use the Gear VR with one of the following approved handsets: Galaxy S8, S8 Edge, S7, S7 Edge, S6, S6 Edge, Note 5, S6 Edge Plus.